2 Chronicles 21:1 – Jehoram Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 8:16-19)
Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.
Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.
When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.
And Jehoram walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.
Edom and Libnah Rebel (2 Kings 8:20-24)
In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his officers and all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night. So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled against his rule at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers. Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.
Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram
Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, which stated: “This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah, but you have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you.
So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow. And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’”
Jehoram’s Disease and Death
Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites. So they went to war against Judah, invaded it, and carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest.
After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. This continued day after day until two full years passed. Finally, his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died in severe pain. And his people did not make a fire in his honor as they had done for his fathers.
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He died, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”
We like to think that our decisions are our own and will not affect our descendants, but that belief is an evil delusion. Asa, king of Judah, made a great beginning when he trusted the Lord to deliver Judah from an enormous army. But later, when king Baasha of Israel attacked with a far smaller force, Asa bought help from the pagan Syrians, rather than trusting the Lord a second time.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah delighted in the Lord and sent priests and leaders throughout Judah to teach the Law of Moses to the people. Jehoshaphat tore down the Asherah poles and their high places but left other high places alone. Jehoshaphat even trusted the Lord to fight for Judah and praised God before, during, and after a battle in which God turned opposing forces upon themselves. All the Judeans had to do was to go out afterwards and collect the loot, and it took three days to complete that task.
But as faithful as Jehoshaphat was in some respects, he failed in others. Jehoshaphat married one of King Ahab’s daughters, probably as a diplomatic move to prevent Ahab attacking him. Ahab’s family were full – bore pagans, worshiping Baal and every other demon available. This poor choice of a spouse left Jehoshaphat heavily involved with Ahab and his family. When Jehoshaphat considered tearing down the remaining high places, it’s likely that his pagan wife talked him out of it.
Now Jehoshaphat is dead and his eldest son Jehoram has succeeded him. There are several other sons, all of whom appear to be good people; however, Jehoshaphat has given the kingdom to Jehoram because he is the senior. It’s possible that Jehoram’s mother is Ahab’s daughter, and she has trained him as a Baal worshiper; on the other hand, Jehoshaphat might have married another pagan woman from a different area. This choice of successor represents the final – and perhaps the most horrible – decision of Jehoshaphat’s life!
As soon as Jehoram gains power, he puts all six of his brothers, plus several princes of Israel to death. Before Jehoshaphat’s death, he had settled all these men in fortified cities, giving them rich presents. Now Jehoram can swoop in and take control of those cities, collecting all that gold and silver.
Jehoram marries back into Ahab’s family, possibly marrying a woman who is a half – sister to his mother. (The Ghanaians would describe her as “same father, different mother” from Jehoram. Choosing such a spouse guarantees that there will be strong pagan influence in the court of King Jehoram. Jehoram immediately builds high places throughout Judah and encourages idol worship, encouraging the people of Jerusalem to “prostitute themselves.”
In response to Jehoram’s evil deeds, God moves Edom and Libnah to rebel against him, reducing the territory held by Judah. Then God causes the prophet Elijah to write to Jehoram, warning him that God is angry with him for his evil deeds. Elijah goes on to say that God is about to strip Jehoram of his wives, his sons, and all of his treasure. Jehoram himself will suffer with a terrible disease that will cause his bowels to rot and burst out of his abdomen until he dies.
All of Elijah’s predictions come true. A mixed force attacks Jerusalem, raiding the treasuries and carrying off all Jehoram’s wives and sons, except Jehoahaz. Jehoram suffers terribly with an intestinal disorder for two years until his bowels literally erupt from his abdomen and he dies. After Jehoram’s death, the people of Jerusalem are so disgusted with him that they refuse to conduct any ceremonies of mourning as they did for Asa and Jehoshaphat. Jehoram suffers one final indignity after his death: “He died, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”
APPLICATION: What a mess! Once more, we have the example of a righteous king who delighted in the Lord himself but who failed to teach his sons properly. While Jehoshaphat was sending teachers to teach the Judeans the Law of Moses, he should have paid more attention to his own household! Why didn’t Jehoshaphat choose a successor based on character rather than seniority? Did Jehoshaphat choose Jehoram as his successor because Jehoram’s mother manipulated, using the excuse that Jehoram was the eldest?
We need to pray about all our major decisions. Jehoshaphat failed to pray about a choice of wife and married into a bunch of Baal worshipers. Jehoshaphat failed to pray about which son should succeed him and Judah suffered under wicked King Jehoram for eight years as a result. Evidently, Jehoshaphat hadn’t even taken the time to actually know Jehoram; otherwise, he might have chosen a different person.
This depressing story is proof positive that decisions we make can affect our descendants in ways we might never anticipate. Jehoram’s eight-year reign was so horrible that people refused to grieve for him when he died. It’s possible that the condition that killed Jehoram was colorectal carcinoma. (Colorectal carcinoma that afflicted King Jehoram – PubMed (nih.gov) Ben-Noun Liubov Louba from Ben – Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel) (Personal note: I have always believed this might be the earliest description of Crohn’s disease, since Jehoram would then develop multiple fistulas that might cause his entire abdominal wall to fall apart. At any rate, Jehoram suffered a painful and shameful death.)
Psalm 90:12 tells us, “So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.” May this be one of the prayers that all of us pray! God is the Source of all wisdom and knowledge; let us turn to Him
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to continually turn to You for wisdom and guidance. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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